"I've got an open mind to those kinds of things," McGuinty told CTV Toronto earlier this week when asked if he's opposed to the martial arts events being staged here.

"I'd want to hear from people who train kids in the martial arts, how popular is it among the younger age group and all those kinds of things. It's not the kind of thing I'd want to drive underground. In other words, I'd want to bring a thoughtful approach to it."

McGuinty said he would also want to consult with police and medical officials, adding the issue is not a priority for him.

Ultimate fighting has become one of the world's fastest-growing spectator sports.

It is a mixed martial arts competition, combining elements of fighting sports such as boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, karate and jiu-jitsu.

The UFC recently won a victory when Vancouver's city council voted to legalize mixed martial arts competitions. It has also been recently legalized in Massachusetts.

The Ontario Athletic Commission has periodically revisited the issue, but it has continually maintained that mixed martial arts violates Section 83 of the Criminal Code, which forbids unsanctioned prizefighting.

The UFC has claimed a UFC event in Toronto could generate $4 million in tax revenue.

Hopefully this is true but only a year ago the Ministry of Health and Promotion canceled CAMTAO which was the Amateur Muay Thai association. Plenty of the guys at my gym fought there and i was going to as well but now we need to go out in Alberta or NY to find fights.

I hope they do legalize MMA but why would they cancel Muay thai / Kickboxing and they allow MMA doesn't make much sense.